NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 19: Country musician Kacey Musgraves visits the SiriusXM Studios on March 19, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Taylor Hill/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 19: Country musician Kacey Musgraves visits the SiriusXM Studios on March 19, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Taylor Hill/Getty Images)

Photo: Taylor Hill, Contributor

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Kacey Musgraves: a musical alternative to Taylor Swift

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Kacey Musgraves was hailed as country music's next great hope even before "Same Trailer Different Park" was released.

The singer/songwriter from Mineola (80 miles east of Dallas) rode a tremendous wave of buzz earlier this year that included glowing reviews for single "Merry Go Round" and major love from noncountry circles, including Katy Perry and Perez Hilton. It crested with three major nominations for the Academy of Country Music Awards, including female vocalist of the year.

She didn't win, but it was a major feat for an artist who was just introducing herself to the public.

"It did put a little bit of pressure (on me), because it's like, 'Whoa - my album's not even out yet.' You're gonna put me in the (best) female vocalist category," Musgraves says. She earned the nominations mid-February, and "Same Trailer Different Park," her major-label debut, was released a month later. She's currently touring stadiums with Kenny Chesney. (No Houston dates are on the books.)

"I didn't want people to start hating me because I was so new and was in there with Taylor (Swift) and Carrie (Underwood) and Martina (McBride) and Miranda (Lambert)," she says. "I didn't want people to be like, 'Who's this new person coming in here taking things?' It was definitely flattering, but I just wanted people to hear the record first to back up the hype.

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"Nashville Star" (and placing seventh on the defunct singing show in 2007): It was the first time I was really away from home. I had just turned 18. I was fresh out of high school. (I really learned about) just making decisions for myself, working with a band, meeting people. I'm glad I didn't go any further than I did. And I'm glad more people don't remember me from that.

Early musical memories: I remember the first music that I ever got from my parents as a gift. I got two tapes. One was Elvis, and one was Hanson. Very, very different worlds there. But I think it's a testament to the fact that I still love catchy, shamelessly pop music. On the other hand, I really love classic, tried-and-true legends, too.

"American Idol" finalist and fellow Texas girl Kree Harrison: She's one of my best friends. I met her a couple of years ago after I'd been in Nashville for a little bit. She is a force to be reckoned with. Not only obviously an amazing musician with her voice, but she's one of the sweetest, most genuine people I've ever met. She probably has every reason to be cocky about it, but she isn't. She's a true musician. She's worked with bands for a long time and paid her dues. You can put her in any situation, and she would absolutely kill it."

"I don't like the idea of something being so hyped up that it turns people off. But at the same time, the more people that are exposed to the music, especially outside of country, it's awesome."

Musgraves indeed proved worthy of the fuss. Her album has earned universal acclaim for its pointed, clever lyrics and modern spin on a traditional country sound. "Merry Go Round" was a top 20 hit, and the album topped the Billboard Country Albums chart upon release. Driving new single "Blowin' Smoke" has been met with equal enthusiasm.

It's an alternately fresh/familiar sound and one of the year's strongest releases.

"Lots of firsts are happening. It's just insane," she says. "It sounds like old-school country, but the ideas are a little more modern. I do love the juxtaposition. I hope it just makes people think."

Musgraves spent some time in Austin before moving to Nashville, where she's become a bit of an in-demand songwriter. (She says she was inspired by the Texas scene without letting herself get constricted by the location.) She's penned tunes recorded by McBride, Gretchen Wilson, Hayden Panettiere (poignant ballad "Undermine" for twangy soap "Nashville") and fellow Texas girl Lambert (current single "Mama's Broken Heart").

But don't worry - she saved some of the best songs for herself. The strength of "Same Trailer Different Park" is in its specifics. Each song tells a vibrant story populated by real, relatable characters and seemingly effortless one-liners that speak volumes with few words. "I Miss You" is a wistful do-wop lament; "Step Off" is a deceptively cheery kiss-off to negative forces; and the "Merry Go Round" chorus ("Mama's hooked on Mary Kay/Brother's hooked on Mary Jane/Daddy's hooked on Mary two doors down") paints a bittersweet picture of small-town life.

"I just have always really loved wordplay and making language colorful. Just spicing sentences up with things that you normally wouldn't," Musgraves says. "I had a really cool creative-writing teacher in high school who was really free-spirited and fun. It probably started around there."

Musgraves singles out jangly, joyous standout "Follow Your Arrow" as one of the album's pivotal tracks. It deftly tackles hypocrisy, ignorance and outright cruelty without resorting to preachiness: "Make lots of noise/Kiss lots of boys/Kiss lots of girls if that's something you're into/When the straight and narrow gets a little too straight/Roll up a joint/Or don't/Just follow your arrow wherever it points …"

The sentiment falls in line with a recent swell of support from younger country artists. Carrie Underwood has repeatedly affirmed her support for same-sex marriage.

"That's the way the world's moving and the way the world should move. And I think country music should be right there with it," Musgraves says. "Will it be a radio single? Probably not. I don't think radio can handle it. I think maybe it can have a bigger life outside of country radio. The people who are gonna find it and it resonates with, it's gonna mean so much more to them than a song that has a catchy video because I'm taking a chance and giving them love in a genre that never does."